grow room question - paint

i have a plastic sterilite cabinet and i was wanting to make it light proof without all the heat. so i was thinking about painting it. my question is that if i paint it black first and let it dry then do a layer of white will the white show to reflect light back and will the black still be there to block light from escaping.

Yes, black as a base it will help block light and white to reflect back whats inside.

use 2 or 3 coats of each color and you will be good

Make sure your surface isn't glossy. It would be like painting on glass, it will just pull right off. Maybe scotch brite it just to rough it up a little bit. And go with flat white paint or better yet get the white roofing paint that reflects 97% of the uv rays!

ya im going to go with flat but is there a certian kind i need to stick to plastic?

I would just get some scotchbrite and rough up the surface. It is easy and will go quickly. I have been a painter for a long time and your prep is the most important part of the job. I am use to painting Mega Yachts and cars though. They probably make a paint that sticks to plastic so just make sure you read the can, and make sure you can paint plastic and also look at the suggested prep for the serface to be painted.

so i should use the spray paint instead of actual paint? and would it leave a funky auroma inside that would mess with them.

jrya7 said:

so i should use the spray paint instead of actual paint? and would it leave a funky auroma inside that would mess with them.

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No spraying paint will get overspray on shit and also spray paint sucks ass! You can use normal Flat white paint just read the back and make sure it will stick to plastic or make sure your black base coat or primer will stick to plastic. All the info is on the back of the can. It will also tell you surface prep. Just follow the directions and you will be fine. I just didn't want you to paint your room and a month later the paint started pealing off! Remember with your lights comming on and going off there will be alot of temp changes. That means the plastic will expand and contract "movement" and if the paint isn't bonded on there well it will begin to peal off.

ya tru that would be bad, so would you suggest using a primer first that bonds well to plastic?

jrya7 said:

i have a plastic sterilite cabinet.

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I didn't get past that part

whats wrong with that? its a good cabinet.

jrya7 said:

ya tru that would be bad, so would you suggest using a primer first that bonds well to plastic?

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yes I would and also don't worry about any haters on your cabinet. People grow in all kinds of things! As long as you have air movement and exhaust fans you are fine. Just get some good CFLs and you will be fine.

ya i have a fan in there and a small one on the bottom for exhaust. i hope to get my big fan working so that i can have an exhaust at the top.

jrya7 said:

ya i have a fan in there and a small one on the bottom for exhaust. i hope to get my big fan working so that i can have an exhaust at the top.

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Just remember you will get out what you pay in. If you go cheap on your grow then it will show in the end. GL on your grow!